Apparatus for stretching curtains



March 15', 1932. l. M. CLARK 1,849,707

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING CURTAINS Filed May 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l(rx I @QE-.ww |F||||||||||||||1|||.||||

IlllIllllll By A fwd /J/w m A TTo/e/VEY March l5, 1932. l. M. CLARK1,849,707

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING CURTAINS.

Filed May 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tcd INVENTOR 4 TTRNEY i\ BY STATESATENT FFICE ISABELLE M. CLARK, F CLEVELAND, OHIO UNITE APPARATUS FORSTRETCI-IING CURTAINS Application led May 23, 1929. Serial No. 365,336;

rThis invention relates to a method and ap- 7 are detail views showingthe pins for separatus for stretching and drying curtains. curing thecurtains in place.

The main object of the invention is to Referring now to the drawings,the device provide a method and apparatus for stretch- Consistsessentially of a rigid, rectangular ing and drying curtains in which itis not frame comprising side bars 1 and 2 and end55 necessary to piercethe front and bottom bars 8 and 4 which are secured together in edges ofthe curtain with pins. any suitable manner as by screws. DisposedAnother object of the invention is to probelow the side bars 1 and 2 area pair of bars vide a curtain stretcher of the character de- 5 and 6which are spaced from the bars 1 and 10 scribed which comprises arectangular frame 2 by means of blocks 7 and 9. The bars 1 and -60permanently secured together and having 2, the blocks 7, S and 9 and theside bars 5 comparatively few parts which are readily rand 6 may all besecured together by suitassembled and disassembled; and which is ablescrews or in any other manner desired. well adapted for quantityproduction at com- Connecting the bars 5 and 6 are a pluralityparatively low cos of cross bars 10, l1, 12 and 13. Arranged A furtherobject of the invention is to prowithin the frame and slidablelongitudinally vide a curtain frame of the character set thereof is anadjustable end bar 14 `which is forth which is provided at one endthereof secured in position by clamps 15 and 16 havwith a portionadapted to receive and suping thumb screws 15 and 16. Extending port thefringe portion of the curtain. longitudinally of the frame and adjustedlat- 70 A further object of the invention is to erally thereof is a sidebar 17 which is seprovide a curtain frame which is adjustable cured tothe frame by means of U-shaped for dierent size curtains and which isproclamps 18 and 19 disposed at opposite ends vided with means forstretching the bottom thereof and adapted to be secured in position andfront' hems straight without pin holes by thumb screws 20 and 21. rlheend bar 4 of and without causing undesirable scallops. the frame isprovided adjacent each end A still further object of the invention is tothereof with upstanding pins 22, 23, and 24, provide a. curtain frame ofthe character de- 25, the purpose of which will hereinafter apscribedwhich is adapted to receive a pluralpear. Carried by' the side bar 5 ofthe frame ity of curtains of the same size thereon simulare a pluralityof clamps 26, 27, 28, 29 and 3() 80 taneously andA which is alsoprovided with which are pivotally secured to the bar 5 as means forsupporting a curtain while the shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The frameis same'is being secured to the frame. adapted to be supported in thehorizontal A still further object of the invention is position by meansof suitable legs, two of to provide a curtain stretcher adapted to bewhich are shown at 31 and 32. The frame is supported at such a heightthat the operator provided about its periphery with a suitable may usethe same without bending over, the scale preferably calibrated ininches. rlhe frame being capable of extensive adjustment adjustable endmember 14 and the adjustable to enable curtains of many different sizest0 side member 17 are each provided on the up- 40 be Stretlled tllleOIl.per surface thereof with a scale which is also 90 Further and morelimited objects of the preferably calibrated in inches. The sideinvention will. appear as the description promember 17 has secured alongone side thereof ceeds and by reference to the accompanying a pluralityof pins 33 which are adapted to drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top planview be`moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, the of the preferredembodiment of my curtain bar being provided with grooves 34 in which 95stretcher; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation the pins vengr-.ge whenmoved to the vertical with a portion of the legs broken away; Fig.position.. rlhe adjustable end bar 14 is pro- 3 is a vertical sectionalview on the line 3 3 vided with a plurality of pins 35 which proof 1;Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view ject upwardly from the upper facethereof, m on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 5, 6 and as shown mostclearly in Fig. 4. 'o

IVhen it is desired to place the curtain upon the. frame, the frame islirst set up in horizontal position. The curtain is then placed, crowdedtogether lengthwise, upon the frame and rests upon the bars l0, 11, l2and 13, with the lowermost or fringe edge resting upon the end bar il.The front lower corner of the curtain is then secured over theupstanding pins 36 and 37, disposed adjacent one corner of the frame.The front edge of the curtain is then stretched along the surface of barNo. l. The adjustable end bar l is then set at top of the curtain andsecured. The front top corner of the curtain is then secured over one ofthe pins 35 in the bar lil- A side bar 3S is then placed over this edgeof the curtain and secured in place by the clamps 26, 27, 2S, 29 and 80.rlhe bar 38 is corrugated on the under side thereof, as shown mostclearly in Fig. Ll, to permitcirculation of air between the bar 88 andbar l to dry the curtain. This bar securely clamps one longitudinal edgeof the curtain in place. The opposite longitudinal edge of the curtainis then secured to the pins 33 carried by the bar 17, which is placed onthe frame about eighteen inches from bar l. The operator then grasps thebar 17 with both hands, spread far apart, and moves the bar laterally onthe frame until the curtain has been stretched as wide as is possible tostretch it, and then secures the bar in place by means of the thumbscrews 20 and 2l, this position being first determined by the scale onthe end bars 3 and 4l.

In order to stretch the curtain longitudinally or lengthwise, a bar 39is inserted through or within the lower hem of a curtain and theopposite ends of the same are placed between the pins 22, 23 and 24, 25,as shown most clearly in Fig. i. The opposite end of the curtain is thensecured to the adjustable end bar lll by fastening the same over thepins 35. The curtain will now be firmly secured in place and will beallowed to dry.

Then the curtain is taken off the frame there will be no pinholes orundesirable scallops along the bottom end or front edge of. the curtain,these edges being held in place by the bars 38 and 39 respectively andwill be straight like when new. The narrow hein or back edge of thecurtain will be pierced by the pins 33 and the upper hem of the curtainwill be pierced by the pins 35. and due to the manner in which thecurtain has been placed on the frame, there will be straight hems oredges on three sides of the curtain. The top end of the curtain willhave pinholes and scallops, but they will not be noticeable in thefullness when the curtain is hung at the window on the curtain rod. Thepinholes in the long, back edge of the curtain vill not show, the pinshaving pierced the curtain about one-half inch from edge or very closeto ma chine stitching holding the hem in place and when gone over with ahot iron after the curtain is taken olf the frame, the pinholes will beobliterated.

The end member l of the frame is of considerable width and provides ameans for supporting the fringe of the curtain so that the same may becombed out straight while still wet or damp. The frame is quickly andeasily adjustable to accommondate curtains of different sizes and thereare no parts to add to or remove from the frame in order to stretch avery short or a very narrow curtain. rIhe member extending through thebottoni iem of the curtain and the clamping member extending along oneedge of the curtain eliminates the difficulty and objection of pinholesand undesirable scallops along these edges.

Another advantage of my construction is that a number of curtains of thesame di mensions can be stretched at the same time, the

use of the pins on two edges of the curtain combined Tith the clampedbars on the other two edges making this possible, and the perforated anduneven underside of the bars allowing the curtain hems to dry quickly.

rlie manner of securing the curtain on the stretcher also tends toreduce the probability of tearing or ripping the curtain or the hands,and even should there be a small tear in the curtain before it is put onthe frame,

it will not be enlarged or stretched unduly.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and in themanner of arranging and securing the various parts in position withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. It is also to be understoodthat the order in which the upper and lower hems of the curtains aresecured in place may be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention. The embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is to beconstrued merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense and it isunderstood that my invention is limited only in accordance with thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a curtainstretching frame, side and end bars, a sliding side bar laterallyadjustable with respect to one of said side bars,`

a slidinv end bar laterally adjustable with respect to one of said endbars, and cross bars under the other bars to prevent a curtain fallingthrough said frame while being attached, said 'sliding bars beingprovided with a series of pins for holding a curtain by piercingtherethrough, one end bar having means thereon for holding a strippassing through the hem of the curtain, and one side bar having meansfor clamping one edge of the curtain.

2. In a curtain stretching frame, side and end bars, a sliding side barlaterally adjustable with respect to one of said side bars, a slidingend bar laterally adjustable with 'Lit respect to one of said end bars,and cross bars under the other bars to prevent a curtain falling throughsaid frame while being attached, said sliding bars being provided with aseries of pins for holding a curtain by piercing therethrough, one endbar having means thereon for holding a strip passing through the hemofthe curtain, and one side bar having means for clamping one edge ofthe curtain, said irst means comprising two pairs of pins between whichthe ends of said strip are received.

3. In a curtain stretching frame, side and end bars, a sliding side barlaterally adjustable with respect to one of said side bars,

a sliding end bar laterally adjustable with respect to one of said endbars, and cross bars under the other bars to prevent a curtain fallingthrough said frame while being attached, at least one of said slidingbars being provided with a series of pins for holding a curtain bypiercing therethrough, one end bar having means thereon for holding astrip passing through the hem of the curtain, and one side bar havingmeans for clamping one edge of the curtain.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature.

ISABELLE M. CLARK.

